Category: Connecticut Travel

Kent Summer Sales Days August 3-6

Catch more than just one good bargain during the Kent Sidewalk Sale Days! Sponsored by the Kent Chamber of Commerce, St. Andrew’s Parish, The Shops at 31 North Main Street, 45 on Main Coffee, Chocolate & Creamery, and Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, the Sale Days are scheduled for Thursday, August 3 through Sunday, August 6, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Shoppers will delight in FABULOUS SALES at merchants including Ace Hardware, Sundog Shoe & Leather, Fife ‘n Drum Gift Shop, House of Books, Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, Koblenz & Co. Antique & Estate Jewelry, Chestnut Woodworking, Tarot in Thyme, and the Kent Station Pharmacy. The long weekend will also feature the wonderful St. Andrews Annual Tag Sale. The Kent Memorial Library will have its Outdoor Book Sale for all four days, Li Liu’s “Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics” performance, and other family-friendly events PLUS you can purchase a raffle ticket to win a 2000 Porsche Boxster 5 Convertible!

Hungry? Of course, there will be delicious food & drinks. Newly opened 45 on Main Coffee and Creamery will have coffee drinks, chocolate treats, and ice cream! The KPG Kitchen & Bar will offer a free glass of beer, wine, or soda with a receipt from a Kent participating merchant! On Kent Green, Sophie’s Bakery & Restaurant will serve up cookies, pastries, and “grab & go” noshes. Stop by JP Gifford Market or the Villager Restaurant for sandwiches, burgers, salads, and lots more options. The Kent Farmers Market takes place on Friday, August 4 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Kent Land Trust Field (South Main Street) directly across Route 7 from the Kent Greenhouse. Now’s the time to get your fresh veggies and produce along with craftspeople, food-to-go, and more at the Farmers Market.

The 2023 Summer Concert Series will present a free concert on Thursday, August 3 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM and will feature the Kenn Morr Band. The concert will take place at the Kent Land Trust Field on Route 7. (Rain cancels) Please support Kent’s Food Bank by bringing a non-perishable item for collection at the event.

The Golden Falcon Lot (on North Main Street) will feature non-profits with information about their dedicated volunteer organizations. Stop by and discover more about the Kent Historical Society, Kent Quilters, Kent Lions Club, Kent Land Trust, Kent Affordable Housing, and Project SAGE. And as always, the art galleries in town will have exhibitions to peruse wonderful works of art!

Parking is available on Main Street and on the Kent Green property. For more information and a schedule of sales & events, visit www.kentct.com.

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New Exhibit @ Institute for American Indian Studies on Native American Identity

The Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut has just announced a new temporary traveling exhibit, “Native American Identity Stolen, Sold, and Reclaimed.” This exhibition invites guests of the museum to reflect on the stories that every one of us carries, consciously or not about Native American People. It is an enlightening and thoughtful journey through Native American stereotypes and more. This exhibit will be up through August. The Insitute is participating in the Summer at the Museum Program where one child from Connecticut 18 and under accompanied by an adult gets in free through September 4.


“Native American Identity Stolen, Sold, and Reclaimed,” traces the story of 500 years of Western perceptions that have been placed on Indigenous peoples of North America through family myths and popular culture that have been woven into a mythology depriving Native American People of their cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity.

Walking through this exhibit, visitors will see an interesting array of displays that explore misguided representations of Native American People in film, news, print media, literature, art, and commercial products. These displays highlight that Native Americans have a very limited scope of representation. They are most often represented either as historical figures belonging to the past or as stereotypical cliches, such as the Indian Princess, the Savage Indian, or the Noble Savage. Displays highlight tropes in advertising, films, T.V. shows, video games, and more that embrace these stereotypical generalizations, and in doing so, validate them in the way people view Indigenous people.

The final set of displays showcases an alternative narrative through a series of short bios on Native Americans from just about every walk of life and from many different time periods. Their stories and self-expression seek to help visitors break the cycle of misrepresentation in a positive and uplifting manner. As, Dr. Janine Pease concludes in one of the displays, “What’s been lost over many generations, it will take perhaps that many generations to restore…the challenge is to realize the power we do have. It’s not going to take some outside power. It’s power within that will really make the difference.”



About the Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allow visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT

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Why Were Tartans Once Banned?

Tartans have a long and complicated history. For many people, tartans conjure up the moody, misty, heather-strewn glens of the Scottish Highlands. Most historians, according to the Scottish Tartan Authority, believe that tartan was worn in the Scottish Highlands since the Third century. How it was conceptualized and exactly who produced the first tartan cloth remains lost in the mists of time.

Spellbinding beauty of the Scottish Highlands

Traditionally, made from wool, using a simple two-over-two twill weave to create a bright pattern of interlocking stripes, tartan cloth was made into clothes first worn by the Gaelic-speaking clans located in the north of Scotland. Today, we know this area as the Scottish Highlands. Tartans began to gain popularity in 1471 when the tartan cloth was purchased for King James and his Queen, making it popular in the Scottish court. In 1535, it became so popular that King James V wore tartan when hunting in the Highlands, and by 1587, documents show that Hector MacLean of Duart paid taxes owned on his land with his green, black, and white “hunting” tartan cloth, not with money. By the early 1700s, Scottish Regiments adopted tartans for their uniforms, with the Black Watch as the first Highland Regiment to appear in tartan.

The Battle of Culloden, David Morier

The trouble with tartans began to brew in 1746 when Scotland’s Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stewart) led an army of tartan-clad warriors, known as the Jacobites into England in 1745. This uprising attempted to topple England’s Protestant King George II from the throne and to restore Scotland’s Catholic House of Stuart. By wearing tartan and Highland dress, the warriors showed allegiance to Scotland’s Bonnie Prince Charlie, also known as “the Younger Pretender” due to his dashing good looks. After the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in 1746, which ended the Stuart cause, all Highland dress and traditional clothing that reflected the cultural heritage of the region was banned. It wasn’t until 1822 that King George IV lifted the ban by wearing tartan on his first visit to Scotland to encourage unity between Britain and Scotland.

Sir David Wilkie’s flattering portrait, painted in 1829, of King George IV in kilt during the visit to Scotland in 1822. The King wore the Royal Stewart tartan, flesh-colored hose and the green sash of the Order of the Thistle.

Through the centuries, tartan patterns have proven to be surprisingly flexible with a timeless appeal in regard to the whim of fashion, and in some cases politics. One of the key reasons why tartan has remained popular is because of its versatility. It can be worn up or down, in the field or out on the town. Today, actors and models, politicians and royalty, hip-hop musicians and punk rockers, as well as regular working folk – men, women, and children, all enjoy wearing tartan at one time or another.

The Best Place in Connecticut for Tartan

Connecticut’s best shop for tartan shirts, for men and women, is BraeVal in the center of Litchfield. BraeVal is a Scottish word for the Upland River Valleys that exist between the mountains and the rugged brae of the Scottish Highlands where streams and rivers tumble into the lochs and the turbulent North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Best of all, there is no tartan ban here … they are alive and well – and thriving! A visit here is almost as good as a ticket to the Highlands! They also have a massive website.

BraeVal – Form, Function and Style

What makes BraeVal in Litchfield distinctive is that it is the home of Buffalo Plaid tartan brought to America by the owner’s uncle Big Jock McClusky. All the cuffs and collars of BaeVal’s custom-made tartan patterned shirts are embellished with Buffalo Plaid to acknowledge how this tartan crossed the Atlantic and became distinctly American. The tartan apparel found here is unique because it is made of a trademarked fabric that is an all-natural combination of ring-spun Merino wool and long-staple cotton that not only lasts for years, it also self-regulates in a variety of temperatures ensuring total comfort. At BraeVal, tartan patterns are always evolving to meet new fashion trends and environmental standards.

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Seaport Association Participates in Summer @ the Museum – Funding Provided by a Grant from CT Humanities

The Seaport Association was awarded a grant from CT Humanities for participating in Connecticut Summer at the Museum 2023 initiative. This program invites Connecticut children ages 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult to visit participating museums free from July 1 through September 4, 2023.
CT Humanities is honored to partner with the CT Office of the Arts again to administer the CT Summer at the Museum Initiative in 2023. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Connecticut State Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood, and Connecticut Humanities, will deliver these financially accessible summer enrichment opportunities to families and children of all ages using funding provided through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act).

“The Summer at the Museum program in 2022 was very successful. We were delighted to be able to introduce so many new children to Sheffield Island Lighthouse and can’t wait to do it again this summer. We are very proud to be among the grant recipients,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association. “This grant program allows us to expand our reach and also helps us achieve our mission of education by introducing children from Connecticut to our historic lighthouse and its maritime history, which is such an important part of Connecticut’s cultural heritage.”

In accordance with this program, the Seaport Association has set aside a limited number of free seats at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for a three-hour cruise to Sheffield Island for Connecticut children ages 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult from July 1 – September 4, 2023. Reservations must be made in advance online only. There are a limited number of tickets allocated each day. To make reservations for a cruise to Sheffield Island Lighthouse Museum click here. Tickets are subject to availability. Special events are excluded.

Children will enjoy a narrated tour on the way to the island and an hour and a half of picnicking on the beach or in the new wooden pavilion, touring the historic lighthouse, looking for shells on the beach, and taking a walk through the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge to view the colorful sea birds sheltered in the marshes and sandy shoreline of the island. An added bonus is the telescope installed by the Seaport Association which is free to use and affords fabulous views of the Connecticut coastline and the skyline of Manhattan. A visit to Sheffield Island is an interactive and immersive learning experience, which is a cornerstone of the Seaport Association’s mission.

About the Seaport Association
The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

About Connecticut Humanities
CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

About Connecticut Office of the Arts
The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the COA is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

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A “Beary” Fun Day at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo: Teddy Bear Fest Returns on Saturday, July 15

Children are invited to bring their favorite teddy bear friend or any special plush pal to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.This “beary” fun day will feature children’s activities and storytelling focusing on Bear Awareness and the facts about real bears. Plus, bring your teddy bear to the “Teddy Bear Clinic” at the Peacock Pavilion and get a free health checkup for your favorite stuffed animal.

The Teddy Bear Clinic is sponsored by Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. In addition to the Teddy Bear Check-Up Clinic staffed by pediatric providers, the special day for children will include a coloring table, cornhole games, and hula hoops. Each child will receive a free Teddy Bear Hot/Cold Boo Boo Buddy while supplies last.

“The Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital staff knows that children need medical care, but they also need opportunities for fun and learning,” said Magna Dias, M.D., Chair of Pediatrics at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Bridgeport Campus.

“Helping children connect to nature is a very important part of what we do at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, and the Teddy Bear Fest is one of our most popular events each year,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho. “We’re grateful to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital for joining in the fun this year as we celebrate Be Bear

Aware, and sponsoring this important day for children, their teddy bears, and their families.”

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Get your ticket to adventure! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 101st year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tiger and leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves. Other highlights include our new Andean Bear Habitat, Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org.

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Why Taking a Sunset Cruise Is A Good Idea with the Norwalk Seaport Association

While most of us admire the sunset from the shoreline, taking in the sunset on the water is an extraordinary experience that can be done close to home, right in Norwalk, Connecticut. It’s nice to know that you can do something unique that is close by and easy to get to without planning a big fancy getaway. Imagine breathing in the fresh ocean air and feeling the tingle of the salt on your face as you slowly cruise past the islands situated right off the coast of Norwalk in Long Island Sound. There is a feeling of serenity watching seabirds glide as you cruise past Norwalk’s necklace of islands.

Taking a two-hour sunset cruise with the Seaport Association through Norwalk Harbor is always a good idea because there is no better or more affordable way to experience Norwalk Harbor than on board the Seaport’s vessel. The two-hour sunset cruise is offered by the Seaport Association Wednesdays – Sunday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. through September 17th. Passengers are encouraged to bring snacks, BYOB, plastic cups, openers, and snacks, to add to the fun. There is comfortable seating in a covered and uncovered deck area on the vessel that holds only 49 passengers, so it is never too crowded. For sunset cruise tickets go to http://www.seaport.org

The friendly crew welcomes passengers aboard and the Captain tells stories of merchants and sailors that have traversed this ancient waterway for centuries. The journey continues as the vessel slowly wends its way through Norwalk Harbor, passing many islands. Some of them have idyllic names like Tavern Island, once owned by the famous Broadway playwright Billy Rose, Shea Island, named in honor of native Pfc. Daniel Shea, Medal of Honor recipient for his bravery in the Vietnam War, and Chimmon Island, the largest island in the Norwalk Chain of Islands. Highlights of the sunset tour include passing Sheffield Island Lighthouse, built in 1868, and two rare sparkplug Lighthouses, Peck Ledge built in 1906, and Greens Ledge built in 1902. As the vessel returns to the dock, passengers watch as the city of Norwalk begins to light up, and just in time for dinner, with many restaurants steps away from the Seaport Dock.

Best of all, a sunset cruise is therapeutic because it reminds us that taking a break from the daily grind is a good thing to do. It gives passengers the opportunity to soak up the last rays of the sun while reflecting on the accomplishments of the day, and everything we have to be grateful for.

Sunset Cruise Schedule & Parking
The boat leaves from the dock on 4 North Water Street at 6:30 p.m., and returns at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday evenings, June through September. The Seaport Dock is adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and North Water Streets. Parking is available in the adjacent lot or at the Maritime Center Parking Garage. For tickets visit http://www.seaport.org or call 203-838-9444. Sunset cruises are $35 per person. The boat sails promptly as scheduled so it is best to arrive at the dock 30 minutes before departure to facilitate the boarding process.

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